Do High Schools in South Korea Need More Female Principals? The Relationship between Gender and Leadership Performance

Abstract

The gender imbalance among principals in South Korea is severe. The purpose of this study was to examine the performance gap between male and female principals and its impact on student achievement. The data came from the 2010 Seoul Education Longitudinal Study. The study mainly covered t-test and two-level hierarchical linear modelling (HLM). The results of the study revealed that female principals acted creatively in constructing a school environment, had better relationships with teachers, exerted more effort on classroom-related activities, had stronger commitment to the school and their profession, and spent more time in school board meetings than male principals did. The principal's performance was found to impact on student achievement and school satisfaction. The study suggests that increasing the number of female principals in high schools in South Korea would improve the performance of the high schools and that of the female teacher workforce. Female teachers need to be encouraged to apply for and be promoted to principal positions. Work-related opportunities should be open to both female and male teachers equally.